Sometimes, one of the best things a team can do is lose. That’s what happened with UW Steven’s Point during the final week of the Great Waters regular season. Its opponent, UW Eau Claire, wasn’t going to the post-season, but that didn’t dilute its aggressive work at the breakdown and fringe, nor the impact of center Robin Blevins and flanker Janee Kutz. The Blue Golds served Steven’s Point a 17-10 loss a week before the conference championship.

“All field, style, and player issues aside, we should have won,” UW Steven’s Point Gray Zischke reported. “To Eau Claire’s credit, they were ready to play. But our team concentration was poor, and in general, an attitude of overconfidence dug our own grave.”

The defeat didn’t impact Point’s berth to the conference final against South Division champ University of Illinois-Chicago (UIC). The team’s mentality, however, was greatly altered.

“Every player and I took individual ownership and felt responsibility for the Eau Claire performance,” Zischke said. “We had a good week of practice and a cathartic film analysis session leading up to the championship match. Pre-match Saturday, there was no rah-rah or motivational speeches. It was as clinical and businesslike as I have ever seen a team in the 14 seasons I have coached at Point.”

Steven’s Point dominated possession, pace, and position in the first half, and was rewarded with seven first-half tries and four Rachel Mueller conversions, including one from 30 meters deep and five meters from the touchline.

“It appeared that UIC was caught off-guard by the wide game, and scrumhalf Andrea Sortillon scored two of her three tries in the first 10 minutes, supporting Point attacks on the fringes,” Zischke explained the 43 first-half points. “At halftime, instead of talking, the UIC coach ran tackling and contact drills. In the second half, UIC played straight-up with some nice tackle-breaking runs by lock Amy Martello, good continuity, and aggressive rucking.”

Steven’s Point worked in its bench and finished the match with a 55-5 victory.

“I was really pleased with our first-half performance,” Zischke reflected. “We had some passages of continuity mixed with aggressive attacking defense that were exceptional. We took the pedal off just a little in the second half, even accounting for bringing in subs.”

Steven’s Point will contest its DII fall Round of 32 match at home and host Northern Lights runner-up Mankato State this Saturday. The game will mark the third-straight first-round meeting for the teams.

“In 2013 and 2014, the second half against Mankato State has been our downfall,” Zischke noted. “We need a full 80, or close to it, if we want to be in Colorado Spring for the quarterfinals.”

This weekend, UIC travels to Winona State, which won the Northern Lights uncontested. The Black Katts had a bye through the conference’s semifinals, while Mankato State got past North Dakota 45-15 in the final four. Mankato then forfeited the final to Winona.

Great Waters receives three seeds to the Round of 32, and UW La Crosse’s 97-5 win over UW Whitewater Saturday afforded a trip to Ohio Valley conference championship Cincinnati this weekend.

For the full DII brackets, save at-large bids, click here.